Chicago Cubs All-Star right-hander Marcus Stroman was diagnosed with a right rib cartilage fracture and is without a timetable to return, according to Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune.

Stroman was nearing a return from a hip injury but felt discomfort in his rib area Tuesday.

The 32-year-old emerged as the co-ace of the Cubs’ rotation alongside left-hander Justin Steele this season. Stroman owns a 10-8 record with a 3.85 ERA and 111 strikeouts across 128 2/3 innings.

 

“He’s been an important part of our success when he’s healthy, and you know, it stinks. Bad news,” Cubs manager David Ross said, according to The Associated Press. “But we’ll continue on. This game moves on.”

The Cubs have turned to right-hander Javier Assad in Stroman’s absence. The 26-year-old had one of the best outings of his career in his last start, holding the Toronto Blue Jays to one run over seven innings to earn his second win of the season.

Stroman joined the Cubs on a three-year, $71-million contract ahead of the 2022 campaign. He holds a $21-million player option for next season.

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